Radiator and method of making the same



Aug. 16, 1932. PHELPS 1,872,044

RADIATOR AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed July 16, 1929 Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE E. PHELPS, OI WAREHOUSE POINT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB, BY ME'SNE AS- SIGNMENTS, TO METROPOLITAN ENGINEERING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK RADIATOR AND METHOD O! BRING THE SAME Application filed July 18; 1829. Serial No. 378,812.

This invention relates to radiators having projecting members through which heat is conducted and thence dissipated by radiation and otherwise and to a method of forming radiators of this type. The invention also relates to improvements on the radiator and methods of making radiators disclosed in an application, Serial No. 37 2,298, filed June 20, 1929 by Irvmg T. Bennett.

In the invention of the above mentioned Bennett application, a su porting base for the heat distributing or radiating-members is .made of a thin sheet of a metal of relatively low conductivity. This base is mounted on a heating or heat sup lying member and a layer of a more con uctive metal such as 7 copper is formed on the assembled base and heating elements, preferablyby electrolysis. In radiators of this type the heat is conducted from the heat supply element outwardly to.

the edges of the radiating or heat dissipating elements while from the surfaces of these members heat is given off and carried into surrounding atmosphere by radiation, con-. duction and convection. As a result there is a progressive diminution of the quantity of heat to be conducted through the heat distributing elements as the distance increases from the heat supplying or generating elements.

As the quantity of heat to be thus conducted diminishes, the cross-sectional area required for its conduction is accordingly decreased, other factors remaining un 'sturbed or unchanged.

An object of my present invention is to provide a radiator of the type indicated above in which the cross-sectional area of the heat radiating and distributing elements is progressivelydiminished at increasing distances from the source of heat.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' sectional area of the conducting members may be diminished in accordance with the diminishing quantity of heat to be conducted therethrough at increasing distances from the source of heat.

Other objects of the invention are tov so pro ortion the deposition of copper or other con uctive metal on the heat conductive areas as to economize in the use of the copper and to provide a simple and easily controlled method of forming agraduated-deposit of copper.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the description of the invention in the following specification and claims.

Various features of the invention are illus trated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a portion of a radiator embodying a preferred form of the invention; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an electrolytic cell showing a preferred arrangement of an anode and a supporting base for radiator elements as a cathode for forming a graduated deposit of heat conducting material;

Fig. 3 is a plan or sectional view of a form or base adapted to serve as a cathode in the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 and to receive a aduated deposit of copper, and

ig. l is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the radiator taken on line 4-4 of Fig. ,1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the invention is illustrated as applied to a radiator of the type shown in Murray application, Serial No. 338,677, filed February 7th, 1929 in which heat is supplied by means of a steam pipe 10 preferably of copper or other non-corrosive metal of high heat conductivity. On opposite sides of the pipe 10 are mounted a pair of metal sheets 11" and 12 corrugated to form areas 13 and 14, contacting above the center of the pipe, transverse wing areas 15 and 16 projecting outwardly from the areas 13 and 14 and outer areas 17 and 18 parallel to the pipes 10 and joining the outer edges of the transverse areas 15 and 16 to form closed channels 19 and 20 through which the pipes 10 extend. Outer or open channels 21 and 22 are formed between alternate areas 15 and 16 respectively. The sheets 11 and 12 are rounded at 23 and 24: to fit the outer surface of the pipe 10 and are tightly held to the pipe 10 at these areas by semicircular straps 25 and 26 which fit the pipes 10 and are joined through the sheets by any suitable manner such as spot welding as indicated at 27 and 28 in Fig. 4.

In my present invention the thickness of the areas 15 and 16, or of the heat conducting metal of these areas, decreases from the inner contacting areas 13 and 14 to the outer boundary areas 17 and 18 respectively. In forming the heat dissipating sheets 11 and 12 a thin sheet 29 of iron, brass or other suitable metal is formed to the shape of the sheets 11 and 12 as indicated in Fig. 3.

The sheet 29 may be of a thickness only suflicient to withstand the mechanical strains incident to bending to the required form and to support the layer of copper that is to be deposited on it. It is not relied on to any plonsiderable extent for the conduction of eat.

On this base sheet 29 there is formed a layer 30 of copper or other metal of high conductivity and of a decreasing thickness towards the outer areas 17 and 18. This deposit of copper may be formed or applied on the base or backing sheet 29 in any suitable manner. Preferably it is formed by electrolytic deposition from a copper anode 31 in an electrolytic cell 32 in which the base sheet 29 serves as a cathode as illustrated in Fig. 2. In the cell 32 the anode 31 and the cathode sheet 29 are submerged in a solution of copper salt and current is passed from the anode to the cathode, as indicated, until a deposit of the desired thickness is formed. To attain the desired gradation in thickness of the deposit a solution of poor throwing power is used so that the total resistance to the passage of current increases, and its conductivity decreases, with increasing distance from the anode 31. As a result of the increasing resistance resulting from the lengthened path of the current to the outer parts of the sheet, the potential between all parts of the sheet and the anode being uniform, the current tends to concentrate on the nearer areas of the cathode sheet. As a result of the greater current density on the areas of the sheet nearest the anode the copper is deposited thereon more readily and a thicker deposit is thus formed. As the increased resistance of the electrolytic solution is a function of the distance of the cathode area from the anode the decrease in thickness is gradual and progressive.

It will be obvious that the throwing power of the solution will be selected in accordance with electrolytic technique to suit the particular dimension of the sheet 29.

By means of the above invention radiating areas may not only be made of anode copper or metal which is relatively cheap as compared with sheet metal or copper but the metal is most efiiciently used. The weight and the cost of the metal are thus simultaneously reduced.

What I claim is:

1. A radiator of the type described which comprises a heat imparting means and projecting fins on said means, said fins having a metal foundation and more highly conductive metal of decreasing thickness outwardly from said heat imparting means.

2. Heat distributing fins having a relatively thin base of relatively poorly conducting metal and a deposited layer of more highly conductive metal, the thickness of said deposited layer decreasing towards the outer edges of said fins.

3. Heat distributing fins having a relatively thin base of relatively poorly conducting metal and a deposited layer of copper, the thickness of said deposited layer decreasing towards the outer edges of said fins.

4. A radiator of the type described which comprises horizontal conduits for a heating fluid, heat radiating fins transverse to said conduits forming air channels alternately open and closed about said conduits, the thickness of said fins decreasing outwardly from said conduits.

5. A radiator of the type described which com rises horizontal conduits fora heating flui heat radiating fins transverse to said conduits forming air channels alternating open and closed about said conduits, said fins having a deposit of copper the thickness of which decreases outwardly from said conduits.

6. A method of forming radiators of the type described which comprises forming a sheet of metal into fins suitable for heat radiation, and depositing a highly conductive layer on said fins in a thickness decreasing toward the outer edges of the fins.

7. A method of forming radiators of the type described which comprises forming a sheet of metal into fins suitable for heat radiation, and electrolytically depositing a highly conductive layer on said fins in a thickness decreasing toward the outer edges of the fins.

8. A method of forming radiators of the type described which comprises forming a sheet of metal into fins suitable for heat radiation, and depositing copper from an anode in a bath of low throwing power and with edges of said fins directed away from said anode.

9. A method of forming radiators of the tipe described which comprises forming a s eet of metal into fins suitable for heat radiation, and depositing copper from an anode in a bath of low throwing power and with edges of said fins directed away from said anode, mounting said fins on a heating element with said edges directed outwardly from said element.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

GEORGE H. PHELPS. 

